Longitudinal neutralizing antibody responses after SARS-CoV-2 infection: A convalescent cohort study in Taiwan

Yen-Fang Huang; Fang-Chi Hsu; Jiunn-Jong Wu; Yi-Ling Lin; Ming-Tsan Liu; Chin-Hui Yang; Hsu-Sung Kuo; Yen-Ju Chen; Chien-Yu Cheng; His-Hsun Lin; Chun-Che Liao; Chih-Shin Chang; Jian-Jong Liang; Wen-Yueh Cheng; Jason C. Huang; Cheng-Pin Chen; Shu-Hsing Cheng; Yi-Chun Lin; Shung-Haur Yang; Yiing-Jenq Chou

Journal of Microbiology, Immunology and Infection (Jun 2023)

Longitudinal neutralizing antibody responses after SARS-CoV-2 infection: A convalescent cohort study in Taiwan

Yen-Fang Huang,
Fang-Chi Hsu,
Jiunn-Jong Wu,
Yi-Ling Lin,
Ming-Tsan Liu,
Chin-Hui Yang,
Hsu-Sung Kuo,
Yen-Ju Chen,
Chien-Yu Cheng,
His-Hsun Lin,
Chun-Che Liao,
Chih-Shin Chang,
Jian-Jong Liang,
Wen-Yueh Cheng,
Jason C. Huang,
Cheng-Pin Chen,
Shu-Hsing Cheng,
Yi-Chun Lin,
Shung-Haur Yang,
Yiing-Jenq Chou

Affiliations

Yen-Fang Huang: Research Center for Epidemic Prevention and One Health, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
Fang-Chi Hsu: Research Center for Epidemic Prevention and One Health, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Global Health and Social Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
Jiunn-Jong Wu: Department of Biotechnology and Laboratory Science in Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Medical Research, China Medical University Hospital, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan; Department of Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology, Asia University, Taichung, Taiwan; Corresponding author. Department of Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology, Asia University, Taichung, Taiwan. No. 500, Lioufeng Road, Wufeng, Taichung City 41354, Taiwan.
Yi-Ling Lin: Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan; Biomedical Translation Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan; Corresponding author. Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, 128 Sec. 2, Academia Rd. Nankang, Taipei 115, Taiwan.
Ming-Tsan Liu: Center for Diagnostic and Vaccine Development, Centers for Disease Control, Taipei, Taiwan; Corresponding author. Center for Diagnostic and Vaccine Development, Centers for Disease Control, No.161, Kunyang St., Nangang Dist., Taipei City 115210, Taiwan.
Chin-Hui Yang: Division of Acute Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control, Taipei, Taiwan
Hsu-Sung Kuo: Research Center for Epidemic Prevention and One Health, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
Yen-Ju Chen: Research Center for Epidemic Prevention and One Health, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
Chien-Yu Cheng: Department of Infectious Diseases, Taoyuan General Hospital, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taoyuan, Taiwan; Institute of Public Health, School of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
His-Hsun Lin: Department of Medical Education and Research, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; School of Medicine, College of Medicine, National Sun Yat-Sen University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Yang-Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
Chun-Che Liao: Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
Chih-Shin Chang: Biomedical Translation Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
Jian-Jong Liang: Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
Wen-Yueh Cheng: Center for Diagnostic and Vaccine Development, Centers for Disease Control, Taipei, Taiwan
Jason C. Huang: Department of Biotechnology and Laboratory Science in Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
Cheng-Pin Chen: Department of Infectious Diseases, Taoyuan General Hospital, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taoyuan, Taiwan; Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Yang-Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
Shu-Hsing Cheng: Department of Infectious Diseases, Taoyuan General Hospital, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taoyuan, Taiwan
Yi-Chun Lin: Department of Infectious Diseases, Taoyuan General Hospital, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taoyuan, Taiwan
Shung-Haur Yang: National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University Hospital, Yilan, Taiwan
Yiing-Jenq Chou: Institute of Public Health, School of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan; National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University Hospital, Yilan, Taiwan

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 56, no. 3
pp. 506 – 515

Abstract

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Background: Understanding the neutralizing antibody (NAb) titer against COVID-19 over time is important to provide information for vaccine implementation. The longitudinal NAb titer over one year after SARS-CoV-2 infection is still unclear. The purposes of this study are to evaluate the duration of the neutralizing NAb titers in COVID-19 convalescents and factors associated with the titer positive duration. Methods: A cohort study followed COVID-19 individuals diagnosed between 2020 and 2021 May 15th from the COVID-19 database from the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control. We analyzed NAb titers from convalescent SARS-CoV-2 individuals. We used generalized estimating equations (GEE) and a Cox regression model to summarize the factors associated with NAb titers against COVID-19 decaying in the vaccine-free population. Results: A total of 203 convalescent subjects with 297 analytic samples were followed for a period of up to 588 days. Our study suggests that convalescent COVID-19 in individuals after more than a year and four months pertains to only 25% of positive titers. The GEE model indicates that longer follow-up duration was associated with a significantly lower NAb titer. The Cox regression model indicated the disease severity with advanced condition was associated with maintaining NAb titers (adjusted hazard ratio: 2.01, 95% CI: 1.11–3.63) and that smoking was also associated with higher risk of negative NAb titers (adjusted hazard ratio: 0.55, 95% CI: 0.33–0.92). Conclusions: Neutralizing antibody titers diminished after more than a year. The antibody titer response against SARS-CoV-2 in naturally convalescent individuals provides a reference for vaccinations.

Published in Journal of Microbiology, Immunology and Infection

ISSN: 1684-1182 (Print)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: Hong Kong
LCC subjects: Science: Microbiology
Website: https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/journal-of-microbiology-immunology-and-infection

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